Pakistan court grants five-day remand to suspect in Laiba Ijaz visa fraud death case

An Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Monday, October 12, granted a five-day physical remand of primary suspect Muhammad Noman to law enforcement agencies investigating the massive Rs 9.3 million educational visa fraud linked to the tragic death of university graduate Laiba Ijaz.

What transpired during the remand hearing for the primary suspect?

During the proceedings at the Islamabad District and Sessions Court, investigating officers from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formally requested a 10-day physical remand for Noman.

The prosecution argued that an extended custody period was essential to trace the financial trail of the extorted Rs 9.3 million, recover additional electronic devices, and unearth the wider network of the visa scam operation.

After reviewing the initial evidence, Judicial Magistrate Zainira Zafar partially approved the request, granting police a five-day physical remand. The magistrate directed the investigative team to conduct deep interrogations and return the accused to court upon the expiry of the five-day period, along with a comprehensive progress report on the financial recovery and forensic findings.

How did the fraudulent scheme lead to Laiba Ijaz's tragic death?

The judicial developments follow the heartbreaking death of 24-year-old Laiba Ijaz, a BS Physics top-honors graduate from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a Sector G-10 green belt on Friday, October 9.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Noman and his accomplices orchestrated a sophisticated scam, providing Laiba with falsified university admission documents—including a fake offer letter purportedly from Harvard University—and fraudulent visa interview appointments.

The suspects extorted a total of Rs 9.3 million ($33,600) from her family, which included Rs 7.2 million for her education and Rs 550,000 under the pretext of securing employment for her brother.

To arrange the funds, Laiba’s father, a local shopkeeper, sold a plot of land, while her mother mortgaged her gold jewelry to a bank. Laiba suffered extreme psychological distress upon discovering the entire process was a fabrication.

The tragedy has prompted high-level state intervention. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered strict prosecution of the perpetrators, while Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the grieving family to guarantee a transparent investigation. Police have also arrested two female accomplices, Fatima Sarwar and Aiza, as authorities launch a broader crackdown against fraudulent overseas education consultants.

The FIA is utilizing digital forensics from Noman's seized mobile phones to identify other potential victims of the extortion ring.